Outdoors: Youth summer programs preparing new hunters

Hunting licenses went on sale last week for the upcoming season and sportsmen are buying them in anticipation of upcoming deadlines such as antlerless license and the elk drawing. I’ve heard of antlerless applications arriving at county treasures offices already, weeks early, including one or two at the Beaver County office. Early submissions will be returned to the applicant.

If you have or know of young hunters there are plenty of events on the calendar to increase their knowledge and sharpen their skills.

Budding bowyers can head out to Raccoon Creek State Park for an instructional archery program on July 16. Join the park educators and get an intro course into archery basics. All equipment will be provided. There are two sessions scheduled, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Pre-registration through the park’s website is required.

A Youth Field Day will be held on July 16 at the Midland Sportsmen’s Club. Check-in begins at 7 a.m., with activities starting soon after. This event is for youngsters ages 8 to 17 and lunch will be provided. Participants must be accompanied by an adult.

Field Days introduce participants to outdoor sports such as archery, trapping, and hunting through closely supervised hands-on activities. Activities will include two different dog hunting and handling seminars, primitive living, trapping, archery, indoor pistol, flintlock,.22 rifle, BB gun, sporting clays and trap shooting. Pre-registration through the Pennsylvania Game Commission website is open and as of June 23, there were 19 of 75 seats remaining. 

An in-person Hunter-Trapper Education course will be held at the Baden American Legion on Aug. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are currently 32 of 40 seats remaining. This is a six-hour training class required by law for all first-time hunters and trappers before they can buy a license. You must pass a certification exam at the end of the class to complete the training.

A Family Field Day will be held at the Aliquippa Bucktails on Aug. 6. Join us for a fun filled day of shooting archery, trap and skeet .22 rifle, fly fishing and fly tying, trapping, and a hunting dog seminar. Lunch will be provided around 1:30 pm. There are currently only seven open seats left, so hurry to register through the Game Commission’s website.

Not to forget about older sportsmen and women, here’s one for the adults.

Have you ever wanted to learn about archery? Now is the chance, join the park educators at Raccoon Creek State Park and get an intro course to archery basics. All equipment will be provided. This program is geared toward adults with a cost of $5.  Pre-Registration is required through the park’s webpage. The event will be held on July 22. 

Mike Barcaskey can be reached at mikebarcaskey@outlook.com.